It is sixty years exactly since Roger Bannister became the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier, and graphic novelist Paul Collicutt has been paying tribute to his achievement.
Collicutt, who is the author of The Murder Mile, a detective story that unfolds alongside the race to break the four-minute mile, has over the last week been tweeting watercolour portraits of every record-holder in the mile, from Walter George to Roger Bannister.
Athletics Weekly, which this week features profiles of the world’s greatest milers, illustrated by Paul Collicutt, is running a competition to win a copy of The Murder Mile. What’s more, winners will get their hands on a limited edition poster, which features portraits of the world’s greatest runners over the distance.
To enter, visit Athletics Weekly‘s website, and bring with you the answer to this question: Roger Bannister’s immortal 3:59.4 survived as the world record for little over a month, but who broke it and what was his time?
Here’s what the press said of The Murder Mile on its release last year:
“A beautifully illustrated detective story that unfolds alongside the race to break the four-minute mile. The Murder Mile is like Chariots of Fire as rewritten by Raymond Chandler, a mash-up that is completely delightful on the page.” The Guardian
“Collicutt’s watercolour artwork is a glorious tribute to the splashy élan of Fifties advertisements and cigarette cards, and there’s no shortage of impressive scene-setting, from widescreen sequences at the Normandy landings to evocative renderings of Jet Age streets, diners and stadiums.” The Telegraph
“An artistictriumph of suspense placed under the starter’s orders with an introduction by track legend Steve Ovett.” The Sun
You might have seen the news that we’ll be publishing Jörg Tittel and John Aggs’ irreverent satire Ricky Rouse Has A Gun in September (with a limited edition hardback available in June).
Well, now we can reveal the brilliantly bonkers promo video. It tells the story of a lonely Chinese rip-off mascot finding love in London, and it features an original song by UNKLE‘s James Lavelle, curator of this year’s Meltdown at the Southbank Centre.
Set in a knockoff Disney theme park, Ricky Rouse Has a Gun is a relentless action comedy, a satire of US-China relations, and a parody of Western entertainment. It follows the story of Rick Rouse, a US army deserter who takes a job at Fengxian Amusement Park, a family destination heavily “inspired” by Western culture, featuring Rambi (the deer with the red headband), Ratman (the caped crusader with a rat’s tail), Bumbo (small ears, big behind), and other original characters. But when American terrorists take the entire park hostage, only Ricky Rouse can save the day. In a furry costume. This original graphic novel takes a curious look at China – a country that, once we look past its often outrageous copyright infringements, is a culture ripe with innovation and a unique, courageous spirit. The book features an introduction by Christopher Sprigman, Professor of Law at New York University and author of The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation.
Find out how to pre-order the limited edition hardback (out 12th June) here.
We’re really excited to be launching I. N. J. Culbard’s first original graphic novel, Celeste, at Gosh! Comics on Friday 25th April – and you’re all invited!
You’ll know I. N. J. Culbard from his masterful adaptations of Lovecraft and other classics, as well as his work on The New Deadwardians (Vertigo). Celeste is the first original graphic novel that Culbard has both written and drawn, and he’s put his imagination and craft to incredible use. Here’s the blurb:
In London, the moment two commuters, Aaron and Lilly, lay eyes on each other on a packed Monday morning tube train, everyone else around them vanishes. In Los Angeles, Ray is sitting in gridlock on the 405 Freeway when he receives a call from an LAPD officer with news about his wife. Ray fears the worst. But just as the officer is about to give Ray the news, he is cut off. The caller has disappeared, and so has everyone else around him. Everyone except for a badly beaten man tied up in the trunk of another car.
In Japan, comic artist Yoshi has come to the demon-haunted Aokigahara Forest to die, but the spirits of the forest have other ideas. Taking us through the deserted streets of London, the empty freeways of Los Angeles, and the dream world of the Aokigahara Forest, Celeste is a compelling and profound graphic novel about the choices we make and the courage it takes to make them.
And here’s what the reviewers are saying:
“It’s a book that will keep you thinking long after you’ve closed it, and you’ll want to return to its images afterwards.” SFX Magazine
“As intriguing a debut as any in recent memory.” Your Days Are Numbered
At the launch, there’ll be signing and sketching, free beer and sparkling wine, not mention amazing company. Plus, you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these three limited edition book plates:
This week, at the London Book Fair, we’re thrilled to be revealing news of an upcoming release: Ricky Rouse Has a Gun by Jörg Tittel and John Aggs. Set in a knockoff Disney theme park, this original graphic novel is a relentless action comedy, a satire of US-China relations, and a parody of Western entertainment. It follows the story of Rick Rouse, a US army deserter who takes a job at Fengxian Amusement Park, a family destination heavily “inspired” by Western culture, featuring Rambi (the deer with the red headband), Ratman (the caped crusader with a rat’s tail), Bumbo (small ears, big behind), and other original characters. But when American terrorists take the entire park hostage, only Ricky Rouse can save the day. In a furry costume. Ricky Rouse Has a Gun takes a curious look at China – a country that, once we look past its often outrageous copyright infringements, is a culture ripe with innovation and a unique, courageous spirit. The book features an introduction by Christopher Sprigman, Professor of Law at New York University and author of The Knockoff Economy: How Imitation Sparks Innovation.
COPYRIGHT VS. CREATIVITY: A LONDON BOOK FAIR DEBATE
To coincide with the announcement of the book, SelfMadeHero are hosting a panel discussion at the London Book Fair, which will centre on some of the issues raised by the book. Chaired by The Guardian‘s Technology Reporter Alex Hern, the debate will feature the book’s author, Jörg Tittel, as well as BitTorrent’s Chief Content Officer Matt Mason (author of The Pirate’s Dilemma) and musician, songwriter and Guardian columnist Helienne Lindvall. Titled “Copyright Vs Creativity: Is Intellectual Property Reserved for the 1%”, the panel asks whether copyright has lost one of its principle functions: to protect authors and to combat fakes. It takes place on Thursday 10th April, in the Thames Room, Earls Court 1, 1pm-2pm.
PRE-ORDER THE LIMITED EDITION HARDBACK
Ahead of its paperback release in September, we’ll be publishing a limited-run “Gold Edition” of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun on June 12th. Available a full three months ahead of the book’s official release, this lavishly produced hardback is an object worth owning. The print run will be limited to just 500 copies, so you must pre-order.
To pre-order the Gold Edition of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun (£24.99 + P&P, out 12th June), drop an email to [email protected]. The first 20 pre-orderers will have their book signed by Jörg Tittel and John Aggs.
You can pre-order the paperback edition of Ricky Rouse Has a Gun (out September 11th) here.
It’s that time of year again: the days are getting longer, the weather’s getting warmer, and MoCCA Comic Arts Festival is upon us! Once again, SelfMadeHero are in New York City to fly the flag for British and European graphic novels, and we’ve got one very special guest joining us.
Following on from the launch of his brand new graphic novel at the Strand bookstore on Thursday night, Nick Abadzis will be signing copies of The Cigar that Fell in Love with a Pipe at SelfMadeHero’s stand (tables A18 and A19) throughout the weekend. What’s more, if you buy a copy of the book, you’ll go home with one of these exclusive Cigar-themed book plates
Plus, there’ll be exclusive discounts on all SelfMadeHero titles throughout the weekend. There’ll also be a chance to get your hands on our brand new US releases: The Park by Oscar Zarate, a stunning graphic novel by the artist behind the Eisner-winning A Small Killing (with Alan Moore); The Boxer by Reinhard Kleist, a moving biography of Holocaust survivor and champion boxer Harry Haft; and the first volume of Frederik Peeters’ Angoulême-winning science fiction series, Aama.
You’ll be able to get your hands on this wonderful book plate by Reinhard Kleist, and many more exclusive treats.
MoCCA Comic Arts Festival takes place on Saturday April 5 and Sunday April 6, 11am-6pm, at the 69th Regiment Armory, 68 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10010. To find out what is happening over the weekend, visit MoCCA’s website.
